Last week, Autosaurus did a post about tomorrow's Glenmoor Gathering Spring Countryside Tour. There's nothing like the feeling of taking your favorite car, new or old, for a drive on great country roads on a beautiful spring day.

The Glenmoor Gathering tours have gained a national reputation for their scenic beauty and quality, but everyone I know has their own favorite place to take a fun drive. When I was young, the twisty two-lanes of Riverview and Akron-Peninsula Roads were my primary destinations upon acquisition of my latest old heap of a sports car. I still have great memories of zipping around there at dusk, taking in the sights, sounds and (pre-compost plant) smells while occasionally scaring myself on the curves.

That's the name by which Pontiac was known when it was introduced in 1926-"Chief of the Sixes." Pontiac was the name of an American Indian chief and the city of Pontiac, Michigan was named in his honor. The Pontiac automobile was introduced by General Motors in 1926 as a "companion car" to the Oakland. The Pontiac sold for less than the Oakland, which was an established GM make. Ironically, GM dropped the Oakland brand in 1932 and retained Pontiac. After World War Two GM had what company chairman Albert Sloan liked to call "A car for every purse and purpose." The GM product line was clearly defined; Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac. Those of us who grew up in the 1950's and 60's remember the transition Pontiac made from just another GM car to an affordable, attractive, high-performance automobile. Those were the glory days. The only new car I ever owned was a 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix Model J. Dark brown exterior with a tan interior-and wire wheels. I loved it and wish I had it today. I imagine there are plenty of car enthusiasts out there today who have their own memories of the late, great Pontiac.